The Enhanced

Chapter Thirty Three

People behind us were still shouting and beeping at one another, I had learned to tune it out by now. It amazed me that such a small town could have so many cars in it.

Slowly, time passed by and we inched closer and closer to home. Aiden didn't seem fazed by the hostility that we seemed trapped in, every driver seemed to have something vulgar to say to someone else.

Aiden, who I had witnessed to be particularly short tempered at times didn't even bat an eyelid when people drove in front of him or pedestrians seemed to pop out if nowhere. He was completely at ease and calm within the confines of the car.

I was scared to ask about it in fear of disturbing his peace or striking a chord. And so we rode in silence, and the traffic passed with us in it.

At some point the thrum of the engine and the distant noise of the radio sends me to sleep and I find myself allowing it to.

*

*

*

I wasn't sure when I planned to wake up, I hadn't thought about it. Though when we got home seemed like a feasible option.

And yet, when I woke in the passenger seat, we were not at home. The light was steaming through the sunroof and all the windows, the dust particles dancing around me and the driver's seat empty.

Blinking away the sleep in my eyes, I sit up and stretch out my muscles and limbs to their full length. I hear the cry of gulls overheard and waves crashing.

In front of me was the ocean, sands stretched out in both directions, there was no one around except for the small figure in the distance, kicking at the waves, deep in thought.

Aiden didn't look back up at the car and obviously assumed I was still asleep. The clock on the dashboard read nearly midday, I had actually slept in.

Though, by now, I was aware of my capabilities of sleeping for extended amounts of time.

The walk to Aiden wasn't as long as I had expected and I was next to him in a minute. He barely looked up as I stopped and carried on staring into the waves.

I look at the water, lapping up next to my feet, putting all its force into getting as far as it can before recoiling, getting ready to try again.

It was less scary than I had imagined, I had seen pictures of huge waves and aggressive currents that suck you out into the ocean and away from the safety of land forever. But this water was calm, it was like a tame dog taking its place by your feet. It was either ferocious nor scary.

Aiden's trousers are sodden but he didn't seem to notice as he ran his fingers through the water and watched it ripple and twist.

"I haven't been to the beach since I was little." He murmurs, seemingly to himself more than anyone else.

"I have never been," I reply.

"Now you have," he says, with a smile. "Come here," he beckons for me, holding out one of his hands.

I look at him and then at the water that inched closer and closer towards me before kicking off my shoes and wading in towards him. His hand was warm despite the coop water and even though the water seemed to freeze my legs, I still felt utterly amazing.

He gives me a reassuring smile and I close my eyes as I listen to the waves and the birds, feeling as though I'm in a movie.

Then, I feel him nudge my chest and send me into the water behind me with a boisterous laugh. I thrash around and reach out for his hand, he gives it to me and I yank his weight towards me.